Alex uses the two-word term "battle cruiser" for a design that pursues the highest attainable speed. His one-word "battlecruiser" retains high speed while giving greater weight to protection against comparable ships. A fast battleship accepts somewhat less speed in exchange for the protection and armament needed to fight any opposing capital ship. These distinctions describe his interpretation of design priorities. Combining high speed with that fighting power depends on machinery delivering sufficient power for its weight and volume.
Notable Point · 1:40:00-1:41:23
Battle cruiser, battlecruiser, and fast battleship as design priorities
A distinction between three capital-ship labels explains different compromises between maximum speed, protection, and the ability to fight other heavy ships.